Warren Olney
Encyclopedia
Warren Olney was an American
lawyer
, environmentalist
, and politician. He was a founding member of the Sierra Club
, and served as 34th Mayor
of Oakland, California
from 1903 to 1905.
. Raised in abject poverty and with little formal schooling, he learned his lessons well enough to become a teacher, superintendent of schools, and a college freshman, oddly enough, in that order. During that time, one of the students in his school was a young future western hero, Wyatt Earp
.
Olney enlisted in the Union Army
and served in the American Civil War
. He served in Missouri
, then fought at the battle of Shiloh/Pittsburg's Landing where a spent bullet knocked him unconscious and got him mistakenly reported killed. He then became a headquarters clerk and in 1864 got a commission as captain commanding a company in the United States Colored[sic]Infantry. He served with this organization without seeing more combat through the remainder of the war, and taking his discharge in August 1865.
He married his college sweetheart and went to the University of Michigan
there earning a degree in law. In 1868, he and his bride sailed from New York
for San Francisco, California
.
, an organization dedicated to conservation in the Sierra Mountains
. They held their early meetings in his law office, he wrote its first charter and was its vice president and close personal friend of naturalist
John Muir
. He was Mayor of Oakland from 1903 to 1905. A difficult choice over damming the Tuolumne River
(in Yosemite National Park
) for public water forced a break between him and Muir and a parting of the ways from the Sierra Club in 1909. He died at 80 years of age in 1921.
from 1919 to 1921. His grandson, Warren Olney III was appointed by President
Dwight D. Eisenhower
as an Assistant Attorney General
to oversee the Criminal Division
of the United States Department of Justice
. Although Warren Olney III was Chief Justice Earl Warren
's choice to be chief counsel for the Warren Commission
, J. Lee Rankin
was chosen instead.
His great-grandson, Warren Olney IV
is noted radio journalist.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, environmentalist
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
, and politician. He was a founding member of the Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
, and served as 34th Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
from 1903 to 1905.
Early life
Olney was born near the Fox River in frontier IowaIowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. Raised in abject poverty and with little formal schooling, he learned his lessons well enough to become a teacher, superintendent of schools, and a college freshman, oddly enough, in that order. During that time, one of the students in his school was a young future western hero, Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was an American gambler, investor, and law enforcement officer who served in several Western frontier towns. He was also at different times a farmer, teamster, bouncer, saloon-keeper, miner and boxing referee. However, he was never a drover or cowboy. He is most well known...
.
Olney enlisted in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
and served in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He served in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, then fought at the battle of Shiloh/Pittsburg's Landing where a spent bullet knocked him unconscious and got him mistakenly reported killed. He then became a headquarters clerk and in 1864 got a commission as captain commanding a company in the United States Colored[sic]Infantry. He served with this organization without seeing more combat through the remainder of the war, and taking his discharge in August 1865.
He married his college sweetheart and went to the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
there earning a degree in law. In 1868, he and his bride sailed from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
for San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
.
Career
Olney founded a law firm in San Francisco. He quickly developed a keen interest in the outdoors, and was involved in the creation of the Sierra ClubSierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
, an organization dedicated to conservation in the Sierra Mountains
Sierra mountains
Sierra is a Spanish word meaning "saw". The corresponding word in Portuguese and Latin is serra. This name is used for various mountain ranges in Spanish-speaking and other countries ....
. They held their early meetings in his law office, he wrote its first charter and was its vice president and close personal friend of naturalist
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
John Muir
John Muir
John Muir was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, have been read by millions...
. He was Mayor of Oakland from 1903 to 1905. A difficult choice over damming the Tuolumne River
Tuolumne River
The Tuolumne River is a California river that flows nearly from the central Sierra Nevada to the San Joaquin River in the Central Valley...
(in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
) for public water forced a break between him and Muir and a parting of the ways from the Sierra Club in 1909. He died at 80 years of age in 1921.
Family
Olney's son and grandson, who shared his name, were also lawyers. His son, Warren Olney II, served on the Supreme Court of CaliforniaSupreme Court of California
The Supreme Court of California is the highest state court in California. It is headquartered in San Francisco and regularly holds sessions in Los Angeles and Sacramento. Its decisions are binding on all other California state courts.-Composition:...
from 1919 to 1921. His grandson, Warren Olney III was appointed by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
as an Assistant Attorney General
United States Assistant Attorney General
Many of the divisions and offices of the United States Department of Justice are headed by an Assistant Attorney General.The President of the United States appoints individuals to the position of Assistant Attorney General with the advice and consent of the Senate...
to oversee the Criminal Division
United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
The U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division develops, enforces, and supervises the application of all federal criminal laws in the United States, except those specifically assigned to other divisions. Criminal Division attorneys prosecute many nationally significant cases and formulate and...
of the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
. Although Warren Olney III was Chief Justice Earl Warren
Earl Warren
Earl Warren was the 14th Chief Justice of the United States.He is known for the sweeping decisions of the Warren Court, which ended school segregation and transformed many areas of American law, especially regarding the rights of the accused, ending public-school-sponsored prayer, and requiring...
's choice to be chief counsel for the Warren Commission
Warren Commission
The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, known unofficially as the Warren Commission, was established on November 27, 1963, by Lyndon B. Johnson to investigate the assassination of United States President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963...
, J. Lee Rankin
J. Lee Rankin
J. Lee Rankin was the 31st United States Solicitor General, from 1956 to 1961. In 1952, Rankin managed the Dwight Eisenhower for President campaign in Nebraska and in 1953, Eisenhower selected Rankin to serve as United States Assistant Attorney General.Known for his straightforward, quiet, and...
was chosen instead.
His great-grandson, Warren Olney IV
Warren Olney (journalist)
Warren Olney IV is an American broadcast journalist. He is the host and executive producer of the nationally syndicated Public Radio International program To the Point as well as the local affairs show Which Way, L.A.?, both of which originate at Santa Monica, California public radio station KCRW...
is noted radio journalist.